Since Xuan Er's departure, the Yu Xuan Palace of the Lan Kingdom had rarely been this lively.
Lan Yi Xuan leaned back against the throne, observing the ministers gathered in righteous indignation. His faintly upturned lips lent him an air of approachability, while Lei Yun, standing behind him, wore a frown, and Lei An's expression was one of undisguised displeasure.
"Your Majesty, Feng Wang is not only the queen of our Lan Kingdom but also a paragon for the people. How can she act with such recklessness?" Hu Hai's voice resounded with disapproval.
"A queen of Lan Kingdom should not be residing in the White Family residence. This matter has already stirred much uproar among the people; Your Majesty must make a decision."
"Where, Hu Ai Qing, did you hear of this?" Lan Yi Xuan's smile did not waver. Their news channels were impressively efficient; he was naturally well aware of this situation. Every day since her departure, Lei Yun had reported her activities to him. Although their days passed with the same tedious duties, he never tired of these updates. From Lan City to Ye City, the miles grew, yet listening to her actions, he felt as though she remained near, never truly absent.
When he first heard of her lodging in the White Residence, he was briefly taken aback, but his composure quickly returned. He understood her message: she intended to prove her resolve. By leaving, she declared she would never return to Lan Kingdom nor to his side—her role as queen would change nothing.
Last time, he had dismissed the ministers' requests for him to take a concubine. By staying at the White Residence, she provided those stubborn ministers with the ammunition they craved, leveraging them to pressure him. They had been scheming to bring women into the palace, especially now that Xuan Er was absent. He could reject the proposal once, and he would do so again without hesitation. Her decision to stay at the White Residence did not shake his trust; he had faith in her, in Bai Zhan Feng, and in the certainty that nothing inappropriate would occur.
The murmurs of the ministers did not concern him, nor did their machinations. He simply didn't want her attempts to push women toward him to bring her pain, for it only left him uneasy.
"Your Majesty, such conduct is unbefitting of the palace. As the sovereign, you must consider Lan Kingdom's future."
Zhang Tao stepped forward, full of righteous conviction. Though he cloaked his intentions with noble words, his motives were hardly pure. The security of Lan Kingdom's future was but a pretense.
A cold sneer flickered in Lan Yi Xuan's heart. When he had first set his sights on uniting the land, it had been nothing more than a diversion to stave off boredom, a competition that brought worthy opponents into his life. The prospect of an empire meant nothing to him if not shared with the one he loved.
"And what does Zhang Da Ren suggest?"
His face remained expressionless, his words landing squarely in the ministers' favor.
Since Lan Yi Xuan had not grown up in Lan Kingdom, he had proven impervious to their manipulations. They yearned for ways to display their loyalty, and marriage alliances with the throne were ideal—sending their daughters to the palace was akin to sending hostages. If Xuan Er were present, none of them would dare raise this matter, but her departure, coupled with her public denouncement of their loyalty, left them anxious. Lan Yi Xuan's aloofness only deepened their fears.
"Your Majesty, as a sovereign, you must prioritize the prosperity of Lan Kingdom by securing an heir."
Zhang Tao's resolute voice seemed devoid of personal ambition.
Lan Yi Xuan knew well that placating the ministers meant yielding to the proposal of taking a concubine. Their daughters would populate the harem, appeasing their anxieties.
"Your Majesty's wisdom knows no bounds. For the good of Lan Kingdom, we implore Your Majesty to consider the broader picture."
When Zhang Tao finished, the other ministers followed, all kneeling in unison.
"Your Majesty, for the greater good of the nation!"
Lei Yun glanced at Lan Yi Xuan, his face impassive, his gaze unreadable. Lei An, however, let out a faint scoff, lost in the ministers' chorus. "For the greater good," he thought. They were driven by nothing but self-interest; their daughters and granddaughters could not hold a candle to Xuan Er.
"Do you mean, Zhang Da Ren, that a sovereign's only duty is to sire an heir?"
Lan Yi Xuan's tone was calm, his gaze serene, yet Lei Yun sensed the turmoil beneath. When it came to matters involving Xuan Er, his master's emotions would stir readily, and the recent pressures to take a consort only intensified his disdain.
Although the ministers could not discern Lan Yi Xuan's thoughts as Lei Yun did, they could sense his reluctance to take a concubine. Still, none would yield the opportunity before them.
"I have no such intent, Your Majesty. But the throne cannot be left vacant, nor can the harem go unattended. While the queen is away, someone must assume her duties; when she returns, all shall be restored to her."
Zhang Tao spoke earnestly. Though he wished to send his granddaughter to the palace, he harbored no ambition to compete with Xuan Er for power. In his view, Xuan Er's presence in the harem brought only benefits to Lan Kingdom.
"And why is Xuan Er absent from the palace?"
When Lan Yi Xuan casually posed his question, Lei An immediately stepped forward. Unlike Lei Yun, who kept his thoughts to himself, Lei An spoke his mind freely. A mere hint from Lan Yi Xuan would draw out the words that he intended to say but was reluctant to voice.
Lei An approached and knelt on one knee, almost calling him "Young Master" before he caught himself. Remembering he was in Yu Xuan Hall and before the ministers, he corrected himself promptly.
"Your Majesty, I have something to say," Lei An declared, ignoring whether his words suited the occasion. He was prepared to hold back if Lan Yi Xuan disapproved, but if these ministers continued pressing, he wouldn't remain silent. Recalling how Lady Xian Yue had once fiercely rebuked these ministers in court, he couldn't help but admire her. But now, these ministers, ignoring their master's wishes, aimed to send their daughters to the palace in her absence. He couldn't tolerate it. The idea of these daughters standing beside the Young Master, let alone calling Lady Xian Yue "sister," was preposterous. None of them were even fit to tie her shoes.
Lan Yi Xuan gave a slight nod, permitting him to proceed. The royal bloodlines were plentiful, and the ministers, backing various princes, represented divergent factions. With the departure of the Second Prince, the court's unity was in shambles, and even some of Lan Yi Xuan's loyal allies appeared sympathetic to these stubborn old men on this matter.
"What the esteemed ministers truly want is to prove their loyalty by sending their daughters into the palace to cement their positions," Lei An opened bluntly. He had long tired of these people. Since Lady Xian Yue left, their pleas for concubines for the Young Master had piled up like a mountain. If it were up to him, he would have mocked them outright.
"Are those your words, Lei Guard?" Minister Zhou did not allow him to rise and glared at Lei An, his aged face flushed with indignation.
Neither Lei An nor Lei Yun held an official title, yet they had accompanied Lan Yi Xuan since their return to Lan Kingdom, earning them a respect even the ministers could not disregard.
"Constantly speaking of Lan Kingdom's 'eternal legacy'…" Lei An sneered as he glanced around, and Lan Yi Xuan made no move to stop him. The ministers, in turn, held their tongues.
"What's wrong with the Queen staying at the Bai residence? She's known the White Lord since our days roaming the rivers and lakes, and they've been close friends ever since. After her long journey, is it not natural for her to rest in a friend's home rather than in barracks?"
According to Lei Yun and the Young Master, Lady Xian Yue resided in the Rose Garden at the Bai residence, sleeping and eating to her heart's content, likely recovering from her exhausting journey. Lei An had initially disapproved, considering her disregard for the Young Master's feelings, but Lei Yun had softened his view. After all, she was accustomed to living freely, and staying a few days at the Bai residence was nothing unusual.
"But that was in the realm of the rivers and lakes, where rules are loose. Now she is not only the King of Feng Kingdom but also the Queen of Lan Kingdom. Her actions must reflect her responsibilities," Zhou Kai interrupted sharply, still begrudging the twenty-thousand taels from last time.
"Since Minister Zhou is so bold, why not say it to her directly?" Lei An countered with a louder snort. Nothing irked him more than these ministers' two-faced words. They were brazen enough to voice complaints in private yet had no real courage, steeped in corruption as they were.
Lei Yun approached Lan Yi Xuan and bowed deeply. "Your Majesty, I believe this is not the time to take on a concubine."